Oliva V – Another Victory for Oliva Cigars
Often times when you have prolific producers you tend to overlook the commitment required to consistently produce good quality. Oliva makes many different cigars and there is not a bad one in the lot. That requires an attention to detail that insures consistency. I was smoking a Double Robusto which I guess they call double because of a little larger ring than a traditional 48 or 50....
Cheap Bastard – A Soon To Be Famous Cigar
It’s a tough life, the job of a cigar reviewer. You get to smoke cigars, sometimes really good ones. And, of course, you meet wonderful people. Sometimes, you get to smoke some not good cigars. And, once in a while you get to smoke a surprising cigar. Last night I reached into the humidor and picked up what I thought was a, well — something else. And what I got was a Cheap...
C & C Corojo – A Simple Everyday Cigar
Just got a couple of new smokes form the NATO show in Las Vegas. This one from C and C Cigars is made by one of the brothers Cusano, formerly of Cusano cigars. I didn’t really know what to expect since I had been told that the retail price of the cigar was around $4. When you first look at the cigar, it looks like a boring and ordinary stick. It has a nice reddish...
Ernie Carrillo’s Second Rebirth
Everyone knows Ernesto Perez Carrillo as the mad behind the Miami company La Gloria Cubano. And indeed he was just that. Running that brand own his own for many years out of Little Havana in Miami. After some years he sold a controlling interest to General Cigar but continued to make the cigars for them. Then, about 3 years ago he split from General to create a boutique brand bearing his...
Cusano 18 – A Rich Smooth Smoke
This seems to be a Cusano week. The second Cusano cigar I took out of the humidor is the Cusano 18 robusto. The 18 indicates that the filler tobacco has been aged for a whopping 18 years. When I first look at the cigar it is a nice medium brown smooth straight sided cigar. It punches easily and lights without problem. The aroma is earthy and a bit sweet. Flavor in cigars comes...
Cusano 59 – A Rare Cameroon Wrapper
I can’t remember how many years ago it was, but I was in a Two Guys Cigar Shop in New Hampshire shortly after they had opened. I had framed a number of prints for their new shop and was talking to the owner, David. A gentleman came in and I was introduced to Mike Cusano. At that time he had just started making cigars and I got a ‘Bullet’ which was quite flavorful....
